The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “every day” in English is translated in Chichewa as “day and day.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
Most High
The Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, Ge’ez, or Greek that is translated as “(God) the Most High” or “Most High God” in English is translated in various way:
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “he the completely glorified God”
- San Mateo del Mar Huave: “Father God who is high in heaven”
- Teutila Cuicatec: “God who has such tremendous authority”
- Chichimeca-Jonaz: “he who is the native of the highest place”
- Palantla Chinantec: “the Big God Himself”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “God who has authority over all”
- Estado de México Otomi: “most exalted God”
- Isthmus Mixe: “God who is in heaven”
- Teutila Cuicatec: “God who has a great rule” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- Sa’a: “God, the Surpassing One” (source: Carl Gross)
- Elhomwe: Mulluku Muullupalli or “God the Great” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
- Chichewa: Wammwambamwamba: A name of God. While this word is difficult to translate into English, its sense implies that God is highly above everything in his power and greatness. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 9:44
And every hour and every day during those thirty years I besought the Most High, night and day: The object of the woman’s prayers, that she might bear a child, can be made specific in translation (so Good News Bible). For the Most High, see the comments on 2 Esd 3.3. In many languages the natural order for night and day is “day and night” (Good News Bible). Good News Bible may serve as a model for this verse.
Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.
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